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Bandits looking for second consecutive win in their regular season finale against Shooting Stars

Zulfi Sheikh • July 30, 2023

The Vancouver Bandits (+118) finish up their 2023 campaign on the road as they visit the Scarborough Shooting Stars (-160) on Sunday night from the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre with tip-off set for 7:00 pm ET. 


It will be available for streaming live on TSN+, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.


This will be the first and only regular season matchup between the cross-conference opponents, and their first since the two squads went head-to-head in July of last year. It was Scarborough, in their inaugural season, that ended up with the edge in the season series against Vancouver in 2022, winning two out of three games.


The Bandits are heading into this contest on the heels of one of their most impressive wins of the season, as the squad picked up a narrow 90-89 victory over the Ottawa BlackJacks. Not only bumping the top team in the East into second place, but also handing them their third loss in a row.


It was Duane Notice’s heroic game-winning triple that gave the Bandits their second win in their last five outings, but it took a team effort to bring them to that point. Seven of the eight players that checked-in for the team put up eight or more points, unsurprisingly led by the forward duo of Giorgi Benzhanishvili and Nick Ward. 


Benzhanishvili tallied an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Ward added a game-high 25 points and grabbed seven boards of his own.


The pairing continues to be top contributors for Vancouver, both as scorers and for their work on the glass. Leading the CEBL’s best rebounding squad (43.2 RPG), their work securing the ball has been the team’s strength all season, and that didn’t change Thursday as the Bandits grabbed four more boards than the BlackJacks. 


Their efforts also earned them a +5 edge on offensive rebounds and +7 advantage on second chance points. Vancouver’s rebounding prowess also allowed them to dominate the interior as they shot an efficient 55 per cent from two-point range and ended the night +30 on points inside the paint. 


Fans should keep an eye out for a glass battle as the Shooting Stars are also a top-five rebounding team (40 RPG) and will give the Bandits a good test before both teams head into the post-season.


Most notably, Scarborough will hope for a big game from Kalif Young. Like Ward (7.8 RPG) and Benzhanishvili (9.0 RPG), the big man is a top-ten rebounder in the league (7.7 RPG) and will likely be fighting in the paint against Vancouver’s duo all night. In Scarborough’s latest outing the forward did a bit of everything on route to a double-double as Young notched 13 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks.


Despite the big man’s valiant effort, the Shooting Stars still took a 103-86 loss to the defending champion Brampton Honey Badgers and snapped a three-game win streak as a result. Tonight’s contest was also meant to be Scarborough’s regular season finale, but after their game on Friday was rescheduled to July 31, it will now be the first of a back-to-back set instead. 


In said defeat, the team held their own in most statistical categories against Brampton, but they struggled mightily from beyond the arch. Scarborough made just two triples on a 10 per cent clip, ending up a -18 on points from distance as a result. Their poor shooting, mixed with a major 22-8 run surrendered in the third quarter is what ultimately led to their first loss in four games.


There were some positives for the Shooting Stars to take from the game, as they actually led in scoring through the first, second, and fourth quarters, and if it weren’t for the lopsided third, they would’ve had a shot at making it four wins in a row. The squad will look to put together a full 40-minute performance as they try to get back in the win column.


Fans of Scarborough should also keep their eyes on Cat Barber, as the team’s top-scorer is only seven points away from reaching the 1000-point mark for his career in the CEBL. If he reaches the milestone tonight, he’ll be the second player ever in league history to get there, doing it only two days after his former teammate Ahmed Hill did it.


In terms of playoff implications, as host city, Vancouver is locked into a spot at Championship Weekend, so a win or loss won’t change much for positioning but can help them gain some momentum heading in. 


The Shooting Stars have already clinched a playoff spot as well, but the team has a chance to make their path to a second-straight finals appearance easier if they win out to end the season. If Scarborough can win both of their final two games, they would leap over the BlackJacks for second in the East, avoiding the play-in as a result.


Full conference standings can be found here.


All games will also be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ powered by BetVictor, and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Full list of betting props available on BetVictor. Preview written by Zulfi Sheikh (@zulfi_sheikh).


A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 71 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball. The CEBL season runs from May through August. Head to CEBL.ca for more information or follow us (@cebleague) on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.

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LANGLEY, BC - The Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team is proud to announce the launch of the Bandits Community Foundation - the team’s dedicated charitable and philanthropic arm. This foundation is committed to empowering youth and driving positive change across British Columbia through innovative basketball and education programs. The Bandits Community Foundation will prioritize creating pathways for youth and adults to excel both on and off the court. Its initiatives include supporting local nonprofits, increasing access to basketball in underserved communities, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to engage in the sport—all while fostering community connections and personal growth. “We believe in the power of community and the ability of sports to inspire, unite, and create lasting change,” said Dylan Kular, Executive Director of the Bandits Community Foundation. “The launch of the Bandits Community Foundation is a commitment to giving back and empowering the next generation. Together, we are building a brighter future, one bucket at a time.” To guide this effort, the Bandits Community Foundation will be guided by an esteemed Board of Directors: Shawn Dheensaw, Basketball BC Executive Director Teresa Gabriele, Canada Basketball national team alumni Charles Hethey, O’Neil Law LLP Lawyer and Partner Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits Basketball Team President Peter Natrall, ISPARC Regional Coordinator Kim Smith-Gaucher, 3x3 Canada Basketball Women’s Head Coach Lucky Toor, TGL Group CPA’s LLP Co-Founder and Partner Full biographies of the Foundation’s board members can be found here . In addition to basketball-centred programs, the Foundation will support local charities, schools, and community organizations through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and event collaborations. Its overarching vision is to ensure sport and education are accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The Vancouver Bandits have long championed community engagement through initiatives such as: Court Projects: Building and refurbishing outdoor basketball courts across BC Bandits School Tour: Delivering cost-free basketball workshops and practice instruction to high school teams Community Champion Initiative: Providing youth and families in need with the special experience of a Vancouver Bandits game Indigenous Basketball Collective: A partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council to foster opportunities for Indigenous players and coaches The Bandits Community Foundation invites individuals and businesses to join its mission, amplifying its impact through donations and partnerships. Every contribution helps provide vital tools, experiences, and support for youth to thrive. For more information about the Bandits Community Foundation, its programs, or ways to get involved, visit www.banditsfoundation.ca . Follow the Foundation’s journey on social media: Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter @BanditsFoundation.
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The Scarborough, Ont., native said that watching his sons find their love for basketball in recent years reignited his own affinity for the sport. “The two areas of passion in my life are basketball and business. And they interplay really well with this role,” Green said. Throughout the many business ventures, Green said his first job was as a father to Liam and Aidan and as a husband to his wife, Andrea Dayco. While his sons are triple-citizens of Canada, the U.S. and the Philippines, Green has made it a point to raise them with Canadian values — and to push them toward the national basketball culture. “I've seen the evolution of basketball in this country firsthand. When I played in high school, I think we had one, maybe two people that ever played in the NBA. The ability to play in the U.S. and go to and play (NCAA) Division One basketball didn't really exist. “Rowan was one of that first cohorts that played, and that was amazing, but it was so rare.” Now, there are nearly 200 Canadians playing in college basketball’s top division. Among those players is Liam, who recently accepted a five-year scholarship at Florida Atlantic University. Aidan plays for the renowned prep school Montverde Academy, which produced the likes of current Raptors RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes. Liam heads to FAU with some CEBL background, having practised with Vancouver Bandits head coach Kyle Julius. Green said the CEBL has quickly become a foundational piece of the Canadian basketball landscape through its partnership with U Sports, its reach to all corners of the country and its affordability. “I think there's just an amazing group of people involved in the league that are really passionate about growing the sport, growing the business (and) providing a really, really incredible experience to customers. “You've got some of the best athletes in Canada and the world playing in the games. … The product continues to get better and better every year,” he said. Besides his impressive basketball resumé, Green has enjoyed a long, successful career in business. He took over as CEO of Indochino, the men’s formal-wear company, 10 years ago and proceeded to launch its retail business, raise over $100 million in strategic capital commitments and guide the brand through the pandemic. Prior to Indochino, Green founded Canada’s first multi-merchant marketplace (now owned by Emerge Commerce) and was an executive at DoubleClick (acquired by Google) and Shop.com. At the CEBL, Green will help introduce the league to potential partners and investors while assisting the league and team owners on business matters. CEBL commissioner Mike Morreale called the partnership with Green “an incredible win.” “Drew’s business success speaks for itself and his passion for the game mimics all involved in making the CEBL a homegrown and global success. His personal financial investment into the league demonstrates his strong belief of our bright future and recognizes the foundation that has been built during our formative years,” Morreale said. “Personally, I look forward to getting right to work with Drew on the next stage of the CEBL and the growth of our game.” Green said the CEBL is on a “great trajectory,” but projected plenty of growth potential too. “Whether that's sponsors or investors or other types of strategic partners that really align with growing the game of basketball and growing the business of basketball in Canada, I think there's lots and lots of opportunities,” he said. “When you try to do something on your own in life, it often takes you a lot longer than it should at the core of it. 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